2008 Civilian Fire Fatalities

The following civilian fire fatalities have been reported by fire departments or the news media in Colorado during 2008.*

December 16, 2008 (Simla) — A man died in a fire at his Simla home after likely smoking around his oxygen tanks, the Elbert County town's police chief said. The mobile home was engulfed in flames when emergency crews arrived shortly after 1 p.m. and heard several small pops and then a large explosion, noises later attributed to oxygen tanks exploding, said Chief Jim Leach.

Simla Man Dies in Mobile Home Fire

November 21, 2008 (Springfield) — Three people died Friday in an early morning fire that broke out at a local restaurant. Baca County emergency officials said the blaze broke out at 2 a.m. and destroyed the business, Hometown Burritos, at 1001 Colorado St. The fire also destroyed an attached residence in which a family had been living.

Three Die in Early Morning Springfield Fire

November 13, 2008 (Pueblo) — A massive explosion in downtown Pueblo at 2:20 p.m. demolished two buildings, killing one person and injuring about a half-dozen more.  The explosion at the Branch Inn, 301 S. Union Ave., trapped five people in the restaurant and two others in the Classic Boutique, immediately to the west.

Downtown Pueblo Restaurant Explodes; 1 Killed

November 9, 2008 (Westminster) — A fatal townhouse garage fire in a complex in the 8100 block of 90th Avenue is being investigated as a probable suicide, according to the Westminster Fire Department. The female victim was found dead in a mini-van inside the burning garage.

Fatal Westminster Fire Believed to be Suicide

November 6, 2008 (Grand Junction) — Grand Junction firefighters responding to a Dumpster fire in the alley south of the 500 block of Pitkin discovered the badly burned body of a male inside the dumpster. The man died from smoke and soot inhalation, according to the Mesa County Coroner's Office.

Body Found In Burning Trash Bin in GJ

November 4, 2008 (Colorado Springs) — A woman who was apparently smoking while on oxygen died in a fire Tuesday afternoon in a west-side townhome.

1 Dead in Blaze at Townhome

November 1, 2008 (Lafayette) — A man was killed in a late-night fire at the Circle Motel in Lafayette, authorities say. The fire broke out at 9:53 p.m. Friday in one of the motel rooms at 200 W. Baseline Road.

Man Killed in Lafayette Motel Fire

September 27, 2008 (Colorado Springs) — Firefighters discovered the body of a person in the ashes of one of eight townhomes at a Colorado Springs complex destroyed by fire early this morning, officials say. The identity of the victim has not been released.

Fire Destroys 8 Rockrimmon Townhomes; Body Found in Rubble

Body Found in Rubble of Blaze that Destroyed 8 Colorado Springs Townhomes

August 12, 2008 (Adams County) — A house explosion killed two men working on a home in unincorporated Adams County on Monday. Firefighters and police were called to the ensuing blaze in the 7100 block of Zuni Street at about 11 a.m. The workers were dead at the scene.

House Explosion Kills 2 Men

August 3, 2008 (Roxborough) — Crews have discovered three bodies in the remains of an early-morning house fire in Roxborough that also left a man hospitalized with burns over two-thirds of his body.

Three Bodies Recovered from House Fire

August 2, 2008 (Arapahoe County) — Arapahoe County authorities early today responded to report of a sport utility vehicle engulfed in flames and found a dead man inside.

Body Found in Burning SUV

July 30, 2008 (Longmont) — A 34-year old man found in the burning basement of a home on the 1300 block of Dogwood Lane on Tuesday morning was pronounced dead after paramedics got him to Longmont United Hospital.

Mom Finds Son Dead in Burning Longmont House

June 15, 2008 (Steamboat Springs) — A Steamboat Springs man died Sunday in an early-morning house fire at 705 Pine St., where police say he fell asleep with the stove on.

Steamboat Man Killed in House Fire

Steamboat Springs Officials Take Action after Fire in Apartment

June 2, 2008 (Meeker) — A house fire that killed a 52-year-old woman Monday morning was burning too intensely for firefighters to try to rescue her, a fire official said.

Meeker Fire Too Intense to Try to Rescue Woman

May 30, 2008 (Fort Collins) — A young woman was found dead in a south-central Fort Collins home Friday after firefighters extinguished two blazes inside.

Woman Found Dead After Fire in Fort Collins

May 26, 2008 (Denver) — One person was found dead inside a burned out RV in Denver early Sunday morning. The camper was parked behind Cadillac Jack's Bar and Grill near Monaco and Iliff.

Friends Mourn Man Found Dead in RV Fire

May 16, 2008 (Mead) — An employee died after an explosion and fire at Boulder Scientific Co., a chemical manufacturing plant in Mead.  Three other people were sent to the hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.

Man Dies After Explosion, Fire at Mead Manufacturing Plant

May 8, 2008 (Granby) — At least one person died in Wednesday night’s explosion and fire at a trailer park on the southwestern shore of Lake Granby.

Lake Granby Explosions, Fire Claim At Least One Victim

April 30, 2008 (Summit County) — The remains of a deceased male were uncovered by investigators in the debris of a four-bedroom family home that burned Tuesday night just east of Montezuma.

Investigators Find Body in Montezuma Fire Debris

April 11, 2008 (Clear Creek County) — The man rescued by Good Samaritans after a fiery crash over a week ago died at the University of Colorado Health and Sciences Center on Thursday.  Timber Dick, 52, was traveling on Interstate 70 near Floyd Hill March 29, when his front right tire locked up, forcing him off the highway. The vehicle erupted in flames, and he was burned on more than 60 percent of his body.

Man Burned in Highway Crash Dies

Family Prays to Pull a Miracle from Tragedy (04/04/08)

April 6, 2008 (Wheat Ridge) — An 85-year-old woman died after her clothes caught fire during a blaze Saturday in the 4300 block of Kendall Street. The cause of the fire is under investigation, but a preliminary investigation indicated the fire was an accident.

Woman Dies After Being Burned In Fire; Cause Unknown

April 4, 2008 (Aurora) — A fire claimed the life of a resident at an apartment building in Aurora early this morning, though the identity of the victim and cause of the blaze were still unknown, officials said.  The fire occurred at a four-story apartment building in the 12000 block of East 16th Avenue.

1 Person Killed in Early Morning Apartment Fire

March 26, 2008 (Orchard) — An eastern Colorado farmer using a tractor to make a firebreak for an out-of-control burn died when the tractor's wheels caught the edge of an irrigation ditch, flipped into the ditch and pinned the man.

Farmer Dies During Controlled Burn

March 25, 2008 (Arvada) — The body of a man has been found inside an Arvada home that was destroyed by fire. Authorities have not released the name of the man, whose body was found in a front room of the home.

Body Found In Burned Arvada Home

Woman Found Dead After Apartment Fire in Aurora

March 5, 2008 (Arvada) — A woman rescued by firefighters from the second story of her burning home has since died of injuries from the fire. The woman was rescued by the Arvada Fire Protection District during an early morning fire Feb. 27 at her home the district said.

Woman Dies After Rescue From Arvada House Fire

February 13, 2008 (Oak Creek) — At 3:10 this afternoon, rescue workers found the body of a man believed to be the owner of the Oak Creek house leveled by a propane explosion earlier in the day.

Man Dies in West Slope Propane Blast

February 9, 2008 (Boulder) — Boulder police are investigating the death of a man whose body was found Saturday morning in a burning vehicle in the 2700 block of Glenwood Drive. "No foul play is suspected," said Deron Dempsey, of the Boulder County Coroner's Office, which has not confirmed the victim's identity.

Body Found In Burning Vehicle

Police Seek Witness to Van Fire

January 30, 2008 (Eckert) — A 3-year-old boy died in a house fire Wednesday afternoon in Eckert.  Firefighters got to the house at 20475 North Road shortly after being called at 12:27 p.m. They learned the boy was in the house, but the intense heat of the fire hindered their ability to get inside to reach him. 

3-Year-Old Boy Dies in Delta Fire

January 28, 2008 (Colorado Springs) — A 1-year-old girl was killed and her four siblings suffered serious burns in a fire that police said might have been started by the children’s mother.

Mother Initial Suspect in Monday Night House Fire

2 Children Taken to Texas Burn Center after Fire That Killed Girl

January 05, 2008 (Security) — A 58-year-old woman was killed in a fire in her home in Security.  The fire appeared to have started in the kitchen, but the cause was not immediately known.

Woman Dies in House Fire in Security

* The National Fire Incident Reporting System (NFIRS) defines a civilian fire death as any non-fire service person that is injured or killed as a result of a fire, including injuries or deaths from natural or accidental causes sustained while involved in the activities of fire control, attempting rescue, or escaping from the dangers of the fire.  People who die within one year because of injuries sustained from the incident are also considered a fire death.

To report a civilian fire fatality, please send the details here.